Total pages in book: 48
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 45092 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 225(@200wpm)___ 180(@250wpm)___ 150(@300wpm)
He was pleased when she jumped up and ran toward him, leaping into his arms and wrapping herself around him. “Okay, Daddy.”
Arion chuckled. “That was certainly easy.” He glanced at Jezebel who still sat on the floor. “Your friend is so well behaved,” he teased.
Jezebel rose to her feet and rolled her eyes. “She is not, Daddy. Don’t be silly. She’s just still in the honeymoon phase.”
He reached out his arms, and she came to him. “We’ve only been mated a few months. Surely we aren’t such old news that your heart doesn’t race when you sense me coming.” His voice was still joking.
She giggled and rose onto her toes to kiss him. “No, Daddy.”
“Say goodbye,” Brock told Suzette as he headed for the door.
“Goodbye, Jez. I’ll see you again soon. Bye everyone else,” she called out as he took her straight past his father and Arion’s father still on the porch and set her down in the clearing.
“Let’s go, Little doll.” He wanted to get home. He wanted her safe inside their house. He wanted her under him.
It took less than ten minutes to get back to the clearing in front of his house, and Brock shifted first, turning to watch his gorgeous mate shift behind him. He immediately hauled her into his arms and kissed her.
When he finally released her, he picked her up, settled her on his hip, and headed for the front door.
As soon as he set one foot on the bottom step of the porch, he stopped dead.
Suzette gasped.
Neither of them dared move or breathe.
A man was sitting on the porch swing, and he rose and stepped closer, stopping when he was just feet away. He didn’t seem menacing, but Brock’s heart was racing all the same. He squeezed his mate tighter.
“I mean you no harm, wolf.”
Suzette held on to Brock’s neck for dear life.
“Are you the one who terrorized my mate?” Brock asked, his voice deep and anguished.
“It’s not him, Daddy,” Suzette whispered.
“Your mate is right, wolf. It was not me, but it was one of my brothers. I came to apologize on behalf of my people. When we learned what my brother had done… Well, he has been dealt with. He will not bother you or your people again.”
“I appreciate the information, but who are you?”
“Who I am is not important, but based on the meeting you just attended, I suppose you don’t need me to explain anything to you.” He smirked. “I’m impressed by the level of intelligence I’ve witnessed from wolves in recent months. I was always taught that wolves were a far inferior species and not to be trusted.”
Brock took a step back, keeping both arms around Suzette. If this man meant them harm, there was little Brock would be able to do to stop him. There was also the possibility he was not alone. Considering the fact that he’d admitted to eavesdropping on the same meeting Brock had just attended and he’d managed to hide in plain sight on Brock’s front porch, the Alpha Protectors were no match for his kind.
“You heard wrong, bear,” Brock responded, taking a gamble. “We are a powerful species, and we won’t tolerate being made to look foolish.”
The bear smirked again. “Like I said, the threat to your pack has been dealt with. No one will bother your mate again. My brother never meant her any harm. He was acting out in order to get a reaction from me. He got it. I give you my word. I’m also aware of the harm my brother inflicted on yours. I hope he has recovered. I’m sorry for that also.”
Brock took several more steps back as the bear descended the steps. He came within three feet of Brock and stopped. He glanced curiously at Suzette. “I’m sorry, Little wolf. You’re safe now.”
“Are you a bear?” she asked softly.
He grinned at her. “Your mate is astute.”
“Our females are intelligent beings the same as our males,” Brock informed him, hoping to convey that none of their women were to be fucked with.
“I see that, and so very submissive at the same time. It’s fascinating.”
Brock did not respond.
The bear turned his attention back to Suzette. “Yes, Little wolf, I am a bear shifter. We have lived for many centuries to the west of your land. Only recently have we made our way this far east. We’d heard tales of wolf shifters, but none of us has ever met one until now.”
“Are you staying in this area?” Brock asked.
“We aren’t sure yet. We’ve come in search of a better life. We don’t mean to disturb your people.” The bear took several steps back. “It would not have been my choice to make our presence known. That decision was made by my brother and his friend. We will not disturb you again.”